The Center for Children and Family Futures (CCFF), with support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), hosts the national Family Treatment Court Training and Technical Assistance (FTC TTA) Peer Learning Court (PLC) Program.

CCFF launched the PLC Program in 2012 to highlight national best practice models for family treatment courts (FTCs), while increasing knowledge and innovative practice through peer-to-peer learning and technical assistance (TA). PLCs are FTCs that operate in alignment with the  FTC Best Practice Standards (2019) — using sound, evidence-supported practices and policies to improve child welfare and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment outcomes for families. PLCs feature strong cross-system collaborative leadership teams that include champions among courts, child welfare, SUD treatment, and other family-serving agencies.

We welcomed the fourth cohort of Peer Learning Courts in May 2021!

After rigorous review and thoughtful consideration, OJJDP and its FTC TTA program named the following eight FTCs to serve as mentor courts in the PLC Program through December 2023.

• Baltimore City Circuit Court Family Recovery Program, MD
• Grant County Family Recovery Court, IN
• Jefferson County Family Integrated Treatment Court, CO
• King County Family Treatment Court, WA
• Pima County Recovery thru Advocacy, Inspiration, Support, and Empowerment (“RAISE”) Family Treatment Court, AZ
• Tompkins County Family Treatment Court, NY
• Travis County Parenting in Recovery/Family Drug Treatment Court, TX
• Wapello County Family Treatment Court, IA

CCFF works with these established and experienced FTCs to show how a comprehensive, family-centered approach — grounded in effective cross-systems collaboration and FTC best practices — improves family outcomes. The PLCs are available to participate in the following peer-to-peer learning opportunities:  

• Host virtual and/or in-person team site visits, providing an opportunity to observe their FTC court proceedings and staffing sessions and meet with their team and visit partner agencies. These visits are typically last one day and include a team meeting during which visitors can ask questions and debrief the court session

• Participate in virtual peer-to-peer connection, via email or video conference call, to share practice innovations, successes, challenges, and lessons

• Share operational documents (e.g., policy and procedure manual, parent handbook, reporting templates, MOU, etc.)

To learn more about the FTC Peer Learning Court Program or to access peer supported TTA, please email us at peerlearningcourts@cffutures.org